All about ureteral stents

Have any woman had there srent travel down til some of it was outside their body?,And how is when a woman removes hersat home

I have a 5mm stone blocking the opening from kidney to ureter. I’ve had 2 major attacks lasting at least 9 hours. This is my 1st stone at 60. Dr couldn’t get it in surgery. I woke with a stent that was giving me a lot of pain. Several days after surgery I called the office, the nurse or receptionist told me my horrific pain was normal. I was forcing myself to do everything, even to drag myself to work because I need the money. I could only last about 4 hrs a day at work trying to act normal. I was taking the brown pills that turn urine orange and 1 oxycodone at a time. I usually have a high tolerance for pain but this was bad, like torture and constant. Surprisingly. I could sleep so that’s all I wanted to do. I finally called the dr in tears on day 9. He said it wasn’t my fault that it happens to some people. He told me to take 2 oxycodone and that made a huge difference. My pain was all low, piercing from the bladder down. It was even hard to walk. It took away almost all the pain to double up on the medicine. The bottle said one ecru 4 hours, but 2 made me actually comfortable. If you are having sharp, intolerable pain all just about between your legs try asking the Dr to double up on your pain med. I finally have relief after 9 days! It’s Saturday and either Monday ir Tuesday he’s going to try blasting from the outside. Wish me luck! I hope my post helps someone. God bless you all. Susan

i had a kidney stone 40 yrs ago it took 5 yrs for them to see it, after cysto i passed it,have been fine until my dr. put me on calcium pills several month ago. now i have 3 stones 2 in the r kidney and 1 in the left. the biggest 1 is 8, had the stent put in 5 days ago and have been so miserable since, cannot leave the toilet, i have such pain,pressure,nausea after i eat, blood in urine all the time. i am scheduled for stone center tomorrow, after that i want this stent out. the drs. never tell you all this because you will never have the procedures done, let alone the expense. i will never have a stentput in again.

They did a surgery on jan 1st to remove a 4mm stone….after the surgery Dr said he didn’t find any stone….may be you passed it before…..he put a stent in to which he said can be removed whenever I want…..I can remove it myself or my husband can do it too….well I waited for 1week and went to his office…..removal was easy but after that the pain is too much still….doctors should communicate with their patients…v trust them with our body and health….they need to talk with us

I had SWL (Shockwave Lithostripsy) yesterday for a 12mm stone in my left kidney. Had a ureter stent placed just prior to the procedure to protect against a large fragment of the broken stone getting lodged in the ureter. I was not, however aware of the “discomfort” – a.k.a. pain – with the stent. I did the research on the SWL but never thought the stent would have these kind of side affects (and I’ll be talking to my urologists office about having better disclosure about this in the future for other patients).

As far as I can tell, by far the most painful part of this procedure is now urinating with the stent in place. I’m sure everything is all swollen still from the lithotripsy so I’m not sure how much is from the stent alone vs. the after affects of the SWL. I was certainly prepared for the burning / stinging in my penis (after all, they just pushed a camera and tube up through there), but I was quite surprised by the pain that radiates all the way up into the kidney level when urinating. Even now the burning and stinging is subsiding, but the kidney pain is still present.

I’m now taking care to urinate while the Vicodin is active (at least 20 minutes after taking the single pill dose and no later 2 to 2.5 hours after taking it – it starts to wear off in hour 3). Even with that the pain is pretty significant (6 out of 10) but bearable and only lasts a moment or so after urinating. To compare, without the pain management, it’s significant enough to bring on nausea and sweating for 2-3 minutes – probably an 8 out of 10 – 10 being so painful I’d pass out and 9 being so painful I’d actually vomit).

So, I’m hoping the pain subsides over the next day or so as my body gets used the stent (it’s not scheduled to be removed until my post procedure followup on 1/27). If it doesn’t – and I don’t plan on taking Vicodin for the next 3 weeks – I’ll be asking to have the stent removed earlier and take the risk of a fragment that won’t pass.

I’ll try to come back and post a followup early next week and let you all know how the pain is progressing.

I am 30 years old and have had chronic kidney stones since I was 17. When I was younger I’d pass one or two stones a year. I am at the point that I can pass ten a month. At this point I’ve passed over 100 stones. They seem to get bigger and bigger. I am in pain more often than not. My urologist recently suggested stents put in and the removal of the stones. All the research Ive done on the surgery doesn’t seem like that great of an option. I’ve asked my doctor if I’m just trading one pain for another and he says kindof! Also the surgery is risky. Does anyone have advice? Are there any alternatives?

I just had my first stent removed via cystoscopy today (for a ureteroscopy in the OR for 2 large stones last week) in the MD’s office and I have to be honest, my experience was nowhere near as bad as things on the internet said it would be. I pre-medicated with oxycodone, xanax, pyridium, ditropan, and ibuprofen (I have a high tolerance to meds), the nurse inserted lidocaine in my urethra with minimal discomfort and let it “sit” for 15 min, then the MD came in with the scope, grabbed it, and pulled it out. I only experienced VERY mild discomfort when he first inserted the scope and when the stent first came out of the kidney. I have had no pain afterwards and urinated no blood. It was a much less traumatic experience than I thought. For the record, I am a female (so shorter urethra) and I do have a very low pain tolerance (I cry when I stub my toe). Hope this helps some people.

Went to the ER around 1am on Dec. 28th after waking up in extreme pain. Was admitted and after testing informed that I had an 8x4x4mm stone blocking my right ureter. Sent home that night with Vicodin and a prescription for Norco and Flomax and told to call one of the local Urologists to schedule lithotripsy. Had my lithotripsy procedure Tuesday the 30th and left the same day with a stent and prescriptions for Percocet and Septra. My mom spoke with the doctor, and he said that he was able to remove the 8mm stone during the stent insertion but that I still had a few smaller stones and gravel that needed to pass, ughhh.

The hospital was just an awful experience. Don’t get me wrong, the staff were so friendly and cooperative, but I was in tears the whole time from the pain and just sheer anxiety of the situation. I haven’t even met the doctor who performed my procedure. He never came to explain the procedure or even just to introduce himself. My mom told me that he was a bit of an ass when they spoke, though, so I can understand. Geesh.

Ended up having to call off work Friday and Saturday from the pain of the stent. I take a Percocet every 4 hours as the label directs me to do so, and now (Sunday the 4th) I can finally move around enough that the stent isn’t bothering me as much. Have been taking the Septra and Flomax as well. Went and had a KUB x-ray today, and hopefully tomorrow I will be fit to have the stent removed! Can’t freaking wait. I’m so tired of this nagging pain. It definitely isn’t as bad as the stone itself, but there’s just a constant pressure that upsets my stomach and feels like it’s pinching my back/side.

The one thing I can definitely recommend to anyone who’s going to have this procedure and have a stent is to rest but also try to get up and move around a bit throughout the day. Don’t overdo yourself, though, because I’ve found that standing for awhile starts to hurt my back, but also sitting for extended periods of time do just the same. Just drink plenty of fluids (ugh, I’m so tired of water now, haha!), stay away from the cola (I was definitely a soda-holic before all this), and be patient.

Wishing everyone luck, and thank you everyone for your input… it definitely helps make everything a little clearer since my Doc couldn’t even be phased to say “Hi!”

I had my first lithotripsy on November 20th had a stent placed and was the worst pain I have ever had in my life, could barely walk, it was removed a week later and I was told that the stone had moved back up into my kidney. I had another on December 10th this time I did not have a stent was told stone was busted small enough to pass with no pain. By December 20th I was in emergency room in severe pain again. They told me I had another kidney stone. I was sent home with pain medication, I contacted my urologist on December 22nd and was told the stone was stuck in my tube, and that I needed another procedure to remove it. The procedure was done on december 24th again left with a stent and was told the stone was removed. Stent was removed this past Monday I had the normal cramping and spasms in my kidney that day, and since that day I have sharp pains in my side, I get sick to my stomach, and it feels the exact same way as the last time I went to the emergency room. Has anyone experienced this? I am trying to wait it out and hope that the pain goes away but this is 4 days later and I am still having the pain. Please someone help………

I had my stents removed onDecember 24th. Why is my body still swollen????? I feel like I have gained 20 lb in fluid. I feel like a whale. When does the swelling go away and is this normal?

I’ve been blasted three times since Oct. 22. Stent in stent out each time. Follow up visit Jan. 6. Have been told that stone is not breaking up and surgery will be required. All three stents have bothered me. I have had all the symptoms except bladder spams, although I may to stupid to realize it. Bladder or Kidney infection with second stent. 1000mg of antibiotic to clear that gift. I’ve had probably 10 stones over my lifetime, I’m 64, only once have had to have it removed. A strange one stuck in prostate. Anyway, the stent is a major PIA!!! I still play golf with visitor in me…..BTW..it has absolutely nothing for me other than make me miserable…..Good Luck y’all!!!! 🙂

I currently have a stent – inserted 2 and 1/2 weeks ago – that was required due to my left ureter being blocked by a 4mm stone lodged in the UVJ. By the time I have my surgery – booked for Jan. 16th – I will have had the stent for 7 weeks. I have not found it particularly painful, but it has definitely been bothersome. I have struggled with a constant feeling of urgency – even when my bladder is empty, cramping, and there has continued to be blood in my urine regardless of how much water I drink.
Yes, stents are uncomfortable, but the discomfort is nothing compared to the pain associated with the stone itself. My stone was first diagnosed on October 10th and it wasn’t until 2 weeks ago that they realized it was lodged. By the time my stent was inserted I was suffering from a severe infection, so the stent, though uncomfortable, was a welcome relief.
I have been through this process before and know that when the stent and stone are removed the relief will be immediate.
Hang in there . . .

On Tuesday Dec 9th I went into the hospital after 7 days on antibiotics for what I was told was a typical UTI by my GP after doing a dip test in her office, because I was still having severe lower back “flank” pain. I have MS so I so get frequent UTI’s and or Kidney infection that often oral antibiotics do not help. So I assumed this was the case again. (That I had a more sever infection then an UTI that needed IV antibiotics instead) but the ER doctor did a culture and found I didn’t have an infection at all. So he sent me for a CT scan and found that I actually had 1 3mm kidney stone. (I have never had a stone before) according to the CT he said it was right on the edge and should drop into my bladder within a day. He told me if I develop a fever to go back to the hospital, gave me some pain killers and a strainer to owe through (I’m a female 36yrs old btw) and sent me on my way. By Friday my pain had not been relieved so I assumed it still hadn’t dropped into my bladder. But I didn’t have a fever, Saturday morning I woke up with way less pain so I figured YAY! It dropped into my bladder so it’ll pass soon. It didn’t! And Sunday morning I woke up in crazy pain again. Monday morning I was still in extreme pain but decided to suck it up and work (I have the option to work from home so I took that optio. Due to the peeling through the strainer) by the afternoon I was in so much pain again I was sweating but still no fever. My friend was concerned showed up and forced me to go to the hospital on Dec 15th. They decided that since I was in that much pain they would schedule me for a stone removal. (I live in canada) so 26hrs later of sitting in the ER At 8pm on Dec 16th. I was finally called into the OR. I woke up expecting to be told we got the stone you’re good to go. Instead my hell began! I was taken upstairs to a room for recovery and given the option to stay for monitoring or go home. Since I have MS and things typically don’t go as planned my friends and family convinced me to stay for the night. 1 hrs after surgery it began…… The worst pain of my life!! (And I’ve had 3 shoulder reconstructions and am an ex ski racer so I’ve dealt with a lot of painful injuries) at this point I still thought I had just had a stone removal because prior to surgery they told me if a stent was placed there would be a string they would “tape” to my leg. So with no string down there I didn’t think I got the stent. And so the night from hell continued every 10 mins in so much pain I would buzz the nurses (I felt bad cuz I’m sure I was annoying as heck) but I just wanted the pain to stop. I had never felt anything like it in my life. The pain was so bad it went down into my leg. By the morning the nurses were debating sedating me just so I could have some relief it was obvious I was suffering. I could see it in their faces that it wasn’t normal that I was having pain like this. But luckily they finally found a combination of drugs that finally got me to a tolerable pain level. The surgeon came to see me the next afternoon and told me that even though it was a really small stone it had caused severe damage to my ureter causing it to swell shut and basically caused it to collapse. So while I was staying at home waiting for a fever or the stone urine was backing up into my kidneys. I was lucky I went in for surgery when I did before any permanent damage occurred to my kidneys. So now here I am 5 days after the stent has been implanted in excruciating pain everyday all day. Everytime I pee, sit stand walk or move my ureter around the stent goes into spasms. It’s been torture. My doctor says it’s affecting me worse because of my MS and that my uteter normally spasms because of the MS but normally I can feel it. I have to have this stent in for the next 4-6 weeks at which point they will do the surgery again to attempt to remove the stone if it doesn’t come out through the stent (oh ya…. The stone is still stuck!) so I’ve had to go off work (great timing with Xmas and all) but at least I don’t have kidney failure or worse. But this has been by far the most painful experience I’ve ever had. What I’ve learned is that if you have MS don’t go by the book when it comes to UTI’s, kidney infections or stones. If you are in pain listen to your body and do not wait until tomorrow! Go to the hospital! And if they say it’s about to drop and it doesn’t within 24hrs don’t wait for a fever (not everyone will get one!) GO TO THE HOSPITAL! If you have MS it changes the game play in this situation all together. And for me this has been a terrible experience one that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy! The relief I get is when I lay flat on my back on a heating pad with my legs elevated and not move.
Best of luck to any one facing this. It is a very different experience for everyone. But remember they will not put a stent in you unless you need it. So even if it’s painful be thankful that it’s just temporary pain you are feeling. Kidney failure is forever and death is permanent. Try to stay positive and ask for help when you need it for friends and family, don’t try to over exert yourself and you’ll keep your pain to a minimum. GOOD LUCK and god bless!

After having a kidney stone blasted, I had a stent placed. 2-1\2 weeks later I had it removed, which was yesterday. This morning I am still feeling a lot of pain in my kidney. I am happy the blood in the urine has gone away. I’m not sure if its normal to feel this pain still, its only the morning after. Although being in do much pain for the last month in a half, Iwas truly hoping to feel better. Has anyone else dealt with this. My best friend is my heating pad! I feel like the character from Charlie Brown, carrying my bkacket around wherever I go! I’ve been drinking a lot of water, I’m just concerned with this on going pain. Having the stent removed alone is so comforting!

I had stent removed from kidney to urethra 5 days ago and still have burning and spasms, has this happen to anyone else, my urethra was nicked in surgery and that is why I had the stent for six weeks, help

I have had kidney stones for the past 10 years and have had to have them surgically removed three times. The worst part for me is having the stent in. I have always had issues with them. They have always been very uncomfortable and painful for me. I have never passed any stones while they have been in and they just make for a very uncomfortable recovery. My stones have been as large as 10 mm, which are pretty large and am unable to pass on my own. I guess, I don’t understand the reasoning for the stent (well I do), but I don’t because they have never done anything for me except cause me discomfort. I’m pretty fortunate after reading some of your posts because the longest I’ve ever had one in is 10 days. My heart goes out to you that have had them in for months!!! How do you do it? The removal of the stent is not bad. They give you a little numbing medicine and grab the string and pull it out. It takes a matter of seconds. Good luck to you all who are having to go through with your processes and I wish you all the best.

I have just had a stent removed only three hours ago with local anaesthetic, I thought I was having a general like I did when I had it put in, so I got a shock, and was a little upset at the thought of being awake !!
Anyway it was a bit uncomfortable, but fortunately it is over quite quickly, I am sore and still got the stinging feeling, but the specialist said to drink plenty of water, and everyday it will feel better, I hope so, in bed at the moment feeling quite drained, and waiting and hoping the stinging sensation will subside soon
Wishing everyone who has to have a stent removed soon GOOD LUCK

Hey I’m 21 years old and have kidney stones which the doctors say is very unusual. I have not had 2 ops in the last 5 days as the stone was so big it was blocking my tube the first op they blasted it but was still too big to come out leaving me in serve pain again! I had the stent put in today and I’m feeling very sick has anyone had this? Got to go back to 2 weeks to get it removed. Also does anyone know how long it takes to pass stones with a stent?

Thanks x

I haven’t slept for the past two nights worried sick about having my ureteral stent removed today which has been in place for 14 weeks due to a blocked ureter following a pelvic mass and abscess which have both now been removed. I was physically shaking when I went into the treatment room however, I was so surprised about how easy it all went. Yes there was discomfort but it was quick. The whole process from beginning to end was just a few minutes. I’ve been told to drink plenty and take paracetamol if needed but so far I seem ok, fingers crossed it will stay this way. I apologise for posting on the Kidney Stoners forum as I haven’t actually been unfortunate enough to experience stones recently (I have in the past)but it was the only place I could find anything regarding kidney stents. I do feel for all you poor people who have had a horrible time when you’ve had your stents removed but reassurance for others who have yet to go through the procedure that not everyone experiences such pain and discomfort. Having said all this, having the stent in place was murder and I am so relieved now that it has gone. I’m only having a trial without at the moment and if it doesn’t work, have been told that they will try me with a metal stent instead which apparently causes virtually no discomfort. For me anything is better than having the pigtail stent that I endured. Good luck to everyone with their stent removal.

I had ESWL (blast) 60 hours ago. Multiple Stag Horn stones in a 18 mm cluster ball. I had passed 3 stones on my own 12-15 yrs ago. Stent is in place which I was apprehensive about though I know is necessary and I after my research would have requested it. The only time I feel the stent is sitting upright on a hard surface like the commode. A distraction not painful. The only complication, so far, is after 2.5 days I have had to urinate literally 250 times (uncomfortable not painful the first 6-8 hours). I think the Stent is giving me the ” need to urinate” sensation. I will call tomorrow for a script to help with that urge. I will probably need a second Lithotripsy. I will update as this journey continues.

Due to have my stent out on Monday after being in place 3 months. I am terrified. Can anyone enlighten me as to how this feels. I understand I will be given a local anesthetic but that’s all. Should I take pain meds prior to the procedure and does it hurt afterwards? My stent was due to a blockage in my urethra caused by a pelvic mass not by kidney stones. Thank you.

I had to have a kidney stone removed and a stent put in 3 days ago. Beforehand I was looking up information and all the comments made about it being painful etc had me terrified. So I’d like to let people know how it was for me. Its uncomfortable when i urinate, it feels like a period pain, not painful and unbearable like I imagined it to be. I’m totally unaware of the stent when I’m resting its only with urinating. Paracetamol and ibuprofen taken together help. Blood in the urine does settle. It’s better than the kidney stone pain thats for sure. I had mine put in under general anesetic and will have it removed in 2 weeks while asleep as well. So if your reading these comments, dont panic that it will be painful, you will be okay. My surgeon said its only 1 in 20 that find it unbearable.

Please check all the details of the stent procedure and don’t let anyone tell you it is painless because its not I am looking for a private hospital to get a stent removed after a colectomy surgery because Kaiser refuses to do it under sedation and I refuse to let this doctors pull a tube from kidneys in his office without any pain medication. Is going to cost my a couple of thousands dollars it sucks because we pay Kaiser 1,200 a month thinking they will provide the right medical care, well they don’t its all about money and this procedure its expensive they rather have you deal with the pain. This is not right! I am canceling my insurance with Kaiser they are the worse>

My daughter had a cystoureteroscopy done to remove a stone that was seen on ultrasound. They said she could not pass it. The doctor could find no stone during the procedure. She had a stent placed and is supposed to have it removed in one week. we had to pay Humana a $1000 copayment and no stone removed so pretty much all for nothing. Now they are telling me I have to pay another $1000 copayment to have stent removed. If the doctor had put a stent with a string on it for removal they cannot charge for this procedure. If we had known this up front we would not be out another 1000. Check with your insurance company before you get robbed like we did!

I am sitting in the ER bed waiting to be admited. Had a baby 8 weeks ago csection. Pain brought me here very bad. Scan showed inflamation on kidney ureter and bladder infection. They want to have a stent put in. I am not sure is the right thing to do here. Scared